1685-86.] INTRIGUES OF DENONVILLE. 121 



him, promising them missionaries to instruct 

 them, and assuring them that he would prevent 

 the introduction of brandy into their villages. All 

 these intrigues have given me not a little trouble 

 throughout the summer. M. Dongan has written 

 to me, and I have answered him as a man may 

 do who wishes to dissimulate and does not feel 

 strong enough to get angry." ] 



Denonville, accordingly, while biding his time, 

 made use of counter intrigues, and, by means of 

 the useful Lamberville, freely distributed secret 

 or " underground " presents among the Iroquois 

 chiefs ; while the Jesuit Engelran was busy at 

 Michillimackinac in adroit and vigorous efforts to 

 prevent the alienation of the Hurons, Ottawas, and 

 other lake tribes. The task was difficult; and, 

 filled with anxiety, the father came clown to Mon- 

 treal to see the governor, " and communicate to 

 me," writes Denonville, " the de23lorable state of 

 affairs with our allies, whom we can no longer 

 trust, owing to the discredit into which we have 

 fallen among them, and from which we cannot 

 recover, except by gaining some considerable 

 advantage over the Iroquois ; who, as I have had 

 the honor to inform you, have labored incessantly 

 since last autumn to rob us of all our allies, by 

 using every means to make treaties with them 

 independently of us. You may be assured, Mon- 

 seigneur, that the English are the chief cause of 

 the arrogance and insolence of the Iroquois, adroitly 

 using them to extend the limits of their dominion, 



1 Denonville a Seignelaij, 8 Nov., 1686. 



